Mr. Gladstone has addressed a letter to his Greenwich consti-
tuents, through Dr. W. C. Bennett, in which he thanks them for opposing the increase of the Income-tax. His opinion of the ex- pediency of abolishing that tax remains unchanged, but "oppor- tunities of the nature offered in 1874 only return at rare intervals." He objects to the extension of exemptions, which "will cripple the tax in time of war," and lessen the number of those interested in its abolition. " With regardto the augmentation of the expenditure, it is due to the party in power to say the country has acquiesced in it very contentedly," but it is also due to the party out of power that the figures of 1873-74 and 1876-77 should be fairly compared. For himself, he agrees with Mr. Cobden, that " prodigality in laying out public money is a serious moral as well as financial evil." The country has only, however, to express itself at the polls and elsewhere in favour of more prudent policy to secure it. There can be no doubt that the country will ultimately be annoyed by the increase of expenditure, but part at least of its readiness to spend is reaction from the overweening im- portance attached by the late Government to economy. Because the Liberals would not spend shillings where they were wanted, their successors are allowed to chuck half-crowns to all powerful applicants.
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